Ozil 'convinced' Germany can win Euros

Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil is confident that Germany will end their 16-year wait for a major international crown at this summer's European Championships.

Germany's last major title was at Euro '96, though the three-time World Cup winners have reached at least the semi-finals in their past three tournaments, including a final defeat to Spain at Euro 2008.

However, Ozil feels Joachim Low's side are perfectly equipped to go one step further this year in Poland and Ukraine after being involved in a faultless qualifying campaign of ten wins from ten games.

"We were quite close before and hopefully it will work this time," Ozil told UEFA.com. "Our goal is to get the title and I am convinced we can achieve that."

Germany have been drawn in a tricky group with Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark, and Ozil says there has been plenty of discussions between the players in the Real Madrid squad.

"Of course the German and Portuguese players talked about it after the draw," he said. "They have a lot of respect for Germany, and there are a few jokes during training with the Portuguese colleagues.

"We tell them we will beat them, they say they will beat us, and so on. We are looking forward to this challenge; our goal is to be successful, and we will give everything for that."